Collection and delivery apparatus.



J. F. MOINTINE.

COLLECTION AND DELIVERY APPARATUS.

- APPLiCATlON H 20 JULY 10, 1915.

1,171,799. Patelited Feb. 15,1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

Gummy" THE COLUMBIA PMljOGRAPH C0.. WAH1NETON, n. c.

COLLECTION AND DELIVERY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY to, 1915.

J. F.7M0NTINE.

Patented Feb. 15,1916. A

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- I i I I I I I I I I I I I v Josey]: F'flfonh'm attozwmgf J. F. MONTINEJ COLLECTION AND DELIVERY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 10, 1915.

1,171,799 Patented Feb. 15,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

arm;

THB COLUMBIA PLMjOC-RAPH 90., WASHINGTON, B7 c.

JOSEPH F. MONTINE, or NEvINvILLE, IOWA.

COLLECTION AND DELIVERY APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb.15,1916.

Application filed July 10, 1915. Serial No. 39,153.

To all whom it may concerm Be it known'that I, JOSEPH MONTINE, a. citizen of the United States, residing at Nevinville, in the county of Adams and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collection and Delivery Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

' more, to provide a This invention relates to apparatus for collecting and delivering mail, parcels, etc, along a route, the same comprising an elevated track on which is mounted a car which carries the mail matter, etc.,to be delivered, and which also picks up the same at the stations, the delivery and collection being automatically effected.

An apparatus of the kind stated is disclosed in my Patents, No. 1,122,785, dated December 29, 191-1, and No. 1,132,863, dated March 23, 1915, and the present invention is an improvement thereon, the same relating more particularly to the propelling means of the car, the latter being carried by a truck mounted on the elevated track and driven by an electric motor.

The invention has for its object to provide a novel and improved means for preventing, the motor truck from jumping the track, and also to level the truck if it should start to rise from the track, and, furthernovel and improved support for the current collector, whereby the same is kept in proner position with respect to the trolley wire at all times'and under all conditions of the track and the trolley wire.

The herein stated objects are attained by means of a combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed, and in order that the same may be betterunderstood, reference is had to the/accompanying drawingsin which Figure 1 is aside elevation of the truck, partly in section; Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Figs. 3 and 4 aresectional details on the lines-33 and H, respectively, of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 5+5 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a side elevation showing a modification; Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on the line 7-7 of Fig.6; Fig. 8"is a crosssection on the line 88 of Fig. 7, and Fig. 9 is an elevation'of'a detail.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 10 denotes a fragment of a suitable car. or receiver designed to hold the mail matter,

parcels or other articles to be collected and distributed along the route. The caris suspended from an elevated track in the form of a cable 11 supported by bracket arms.- 12 mounted on poles 13 positioned at suitable intervals along the route. On the cable 11 is mounted a truck for propelling the car, the latter being carried by and suspended from the truck. One or trucks are provided according to the size of the car. Ordinarily two trucks are suifi cient, one for each end of the car. The trucks are propelled by electric motors suitgeared to the wheels thereof, and obmore propelling tainlng current from an overhead conductor 1-1- strung above the cable or track 11, and supported by bracket arms 15 carried bythe poles l3.

At'the outer end of the bracket arm 12 is an upstanding part16 1n the top of which 1s a groove, which forms a seat'for the cable 11, and the latter is held in this seat by a clip 17 welded side of the part 16' and havinga top bend across the cable. The part 16 is of sulficient length to provide a substantial support for the cable and its ends are beveled, as indicated at 18, to facilitate the passage of certain guards tobe presently described. The conductor 14 is supported in the same manner as the cable 11, the seat being shown at 19 and the clip at 20, the seat also'having beveled ends 21.

The truck comprises a base or platform or otherwise secured to the Y mounted, said motors being suitably geared to the wheels 24 of the truck for propelling the same along the cable 11. The truck wheels have grooved peripheries and they arerso positioned that the base is spaced a suliicient distance above the cable to clear the latter; At the ends of the base are depending, forked guards 25, which straddle the cable, and are integral with the base, or separate and made fast thereon. The guards also have sufiicient spread to clear the parts 16 and 17. A suitable housing" 26, carried by the base, incloses the motors 23. Midway between its front and rear ends, thetruck carries a hanger comprising a hub 27 and stems 28 and 29 extending from the latter. These stems are offset laterally relative to each other and one extends upward and the other downward. The bottom stem 28 carries a depending stem 30 which supports the car, the connection being like that shown in the hereinbefore noted Patent No. 1,122,785, dated December 29, 1914.

In the truck base orplatform 22 is an opening 31 to accommodate the hanger hub 27, and a pivot pin or bolt 32 passing through the hub and the base connects the truck pivotally to the hanger, the pivotal axis being transversely of the truck. Beneath the truck base 22, the hanger stem 28 carries a bowed spring 83 extending forwardly and rearwardly of the stem and having its free ends pressing against'the bottom of the truck base, on opposite sides of the pivot 32 of the hanger. This spring is located to one side of the cable 11 to clear the same, and its function is to hold the truck level if it should rise from the cable 11. Beneath the spring 33, the hanger stem 28 carries a pivoted arm 84 extending for wardlyand rearwardly of said stem and equipped with guard rollers 35 at its ends. These guard rollersare directly beneath the cable 11 and adjacent .to the guards 25 of the truck base 22. The arm is pivoted to the stem. 28 at 36, and beneath the arm the stem carries a bowed spring 37 the free ends of which press against the under side of the arm 34, on opposite sides of its pivot 36. The rollers 35 prevent the truck from jumping the cable 11, and the spring 33, as already described, keeps the truck-level and holds both wheels 24 on the cable lVithout the spring 33, the'truck might tip or have one wheel on the cable and the other wheel. in the air, which would leavean opening for this end to slip'off the cable if a bad place on the cablewere encountered. The spring 37 holds the arm 34 level so that the rollers are on the same level beneath the cable.- By pivoting the supporting arm 34 of the rollers,the latter are enabled to clear the cable support 16, the beveled ends 18 of the latter being in the path of the rollers. Thus when the forward roller strikes the rear bevel 18, the end of the arm carrying this roller tilts downward, and the other or rear end tilts upward so that the roller carried by said rear end of the arm comes closeto the cable and the rear guard 25, and thus prevents the truck from jumping the cable. lVhen the rear roller reaches the rear incline, the arm tilts in. a direction to bring the front roller close to the cable and the front guard 25, and when said roller clears the cable support, the spring 37 restores the arm to its normal level position so that the rollers will not drag along the cable.

At 38 are shown two current collectors in the form of ordinary trolley wheels mounted for travel on the conducter 14. :The trolley wheels are carried by a bracket composed of a horizontal arm 39 having upstanding end portions 40 supporting the trolley Wheels in. any suitable manner; The bracket arm 39 is supported midway between its ends by a wooden arm 41, and the latter, in. turn, is connected to the upper end of the hanger arm 29, the truck housing 26 having a top opening 42 through which the hanger arm extends. arms and '41 is made with .a ball-andsocket joint The trolley wheel supporting members 40 carry pivoted guard arms 44 held level by.

Theseguard arms are bowed springs located beneath the conductor 14 and their ends are located in advance of and to the rear of the trolley wheels 38. The ends of the arms'are curved so that they may glide along the conductor if they strike the same. If the trolley wheels should jump the conductor, the guard arms 44 strike the latter, they being spaced from the conductor such a distance that the trolley wheels cannot rise high enough to let the'conductor out of the peripheral groove of the wheels. The 1 allow the 1 ball-and-socket joints 48 and 44 trolley wheels to readily follow curves in the conductor, and they also give the wheels enough side play to follow irregularities in the conductor. The wheels will also follbw the conductor if the latter is notperfectly.

level, and the spacing between the same and the cable 11 varies. As the trolley-wheel supportingbracket is carried by the stem 29, and the latter is keptupright by the weight of the car 10, the tilting of the truck does not disturb the'position of the trolley wheels.

As in thehereinbefore noted Patent No. 1122785, a speed controllerfor the motors 28 is provided, the same being actuated by a star wheel 46 located on one side of the truck: in the path of a trip 47 carried by a bracket arm 48 supported by the pole 18.

On the bracket arm 48 is a plate-49 to which the trip is pivoted as indicated at 50. The trip is an arm havlng at its outer, free end arm 47 being inclined. Thus, when the star wheel 46 strikes the arm 47 the latter swings back out'of the way as shown dotted inFig. 5, and no motion is given the star wheel. However, when the starwheel strikes the branch 51 the trip device does not-swing back and the star wheel is actuated. This trip structure makes 1t possible to have one.

The connection between the 1 43, and a similar connection is I made between the arm 41 and the stem 29.,

.110 an inwardly extending branch 51 passingset of trips for one way and another set for the other way when sending cars both ways on the same line.- The outer end of the branch 51 carries a deflector plate '54 to properly place the arms of the star wheel in position to intercept the trip so that the star wheel will always be turned far enough to actuate the motor controller.

devices will .be located along .theline wherever needed.

Figs. 6 to 9 show a modified structure .designed to permit the guardrollers 351: pass and 56 are unlocked The trip cable supports which are longer than the distance between the rollers. hereinbefore described does not allow the rollers to pass over such long cable supports. To obviate this'difiiculty, the rollers ofthe modifiedstructure' are carried by an arm which is in two sections, indicated at 55, and 56,'respectively. These sectionsfare pivotally connected at their inner endsand their outer ends carry the respective rollers. The

section is pivoted on a pin ,57-carried by the stem 28. The pivotal or hinge connection between the sections is made by a pin or bolt 58., The inner endvof the section 55 is forked, as indicated at 59, and the corresponding end of the section 56 fits between h f k br nch s, t e piv t pin 8 passing through these lapping parts. In the inner end of the section 56 is an arcuate slot having for its center the pivotal axis 58 of the sections. The fork branches 59 carry a fixed pin 61 which passes through the slot 60. One of the fork branches also carries a sliding latch pin or bolt 62, positioned to enter the slot 60. The fork branch which carries the latch 62 has a lug 63 to which is pivoted oneend of a lever .64 and having at its opposite free end a lateral bend 65 which passes loosely through an aperture 66 in the section 55 and carries at its outer end a roller 67, the latch 62 by a link 68, and a spring .69, connectedto the lever, pulls the same toward the fork 59 to hold the latchseated in the slot 60. On the bracket arm 12 is mounted a track for the roller, the same comprising a plate having an oblique end which is in the path of the roller 67. ,When the roller strikes this end of' the plate, the lever 64 is swung in a direction to withdrawv the latch 62 from the slot60. The latch'is therefore obstacle-controlled. The arm sections 55 and 56 are then unlocked, and they are free to tilt downward to theextent of the length of the slot 60 hen the sections are t l Wa the P n 61 s a th 'other e d of the lot W en e se t qn are un d the P n 1 st ps th swing h upqn r a h ng the end of the ot 'QPPQs tB he a d it normally occupies. lVhen the sections 55 a d s ribed, t e section 56 drops down as :shown dotted in Fig. 6 to allow its roller 35 to clear the rearend of the long cable support 16, the-front roller not yet having cleared the support. As

09. 1 as e e olle 'c e rs he cab e sup port, the leveling 3T swings the secqn's in o a ne e t aga n, a d th sprin creat -th irs tie-advance salsa length of the latter being proportionate The structure The lever 6% is connected to loc d og t er, he a ch 62 i at o an 0f to lock the sections, the roller 67 having in the meantime slipped off the plate :70, the; i

to the length of the cable support 16.

'Iclaim: a

l. The combination ofan elevated track, ainotortruck mounted on said track, a' car suspended from the truck,a' hanger sup,-

porting .the car, .a pivotal connection between the hanger and the truck, a pivoted arm carried by the hanger and extending for 7 wardly and rearwardly therefrom, guard rollers carried by the outer ends of the arm, said rollers being located beneath the track i i-proximity thereto, ,andla leveling spring. for thearm. 1

2. The combination of an elevated track, a motor truck mounted on saiditrack, a car suspended from the truck, ahanger supporting the car, a pivotal connectionbetween the hanger and the truck, a pivoted arm carriedby thehanger and extending for- .Wardly and rearwardly therefrom, guard rollers carried by the outerends of the arm, said rollers being'located'beneath the track in proximity thereto, and to the endslof the truck, the truck ends having front and rear guards straddling the track,and. a leveling spring for the-arm.

3. The combination of an elevatedtrack,

a motor truck mounted on saidtrack, a car suspended from the truck, a hanger sup.- porting the car, a pivotal connection'between thehanger and the truck, a pivoted arm carried by the hanger and extending forwardly and rearwardly therefrom, guard rollers carried by the outer ends ofthearm, said rollers being located beneath the track' in proximity thereto, a levelingspring for the arm, an upstanding stem carried by the hanger, a current collector, a bracket supporting the collector, an arm supporting the bracket, said arm being carried by the aforesaid stem, and pivotal connections between the arm and the bracket, and between the arm and the stem.

4. The combination of an elevated track, a motor truck mounted on said track, a car suspended from the truck, a hanger supporting the car, a pivotal connection between the hang'el and the truck,a .pivoted armcarried by the hanger and extending forwardly and rearwardly therefrom,- guard rollers carried by the outer ends of the arm, said rollers being locatedbeneath the track in proximity thereto, a leveling spring for the arm, an upstanding stem carriedpby the hanger, a current collector, aybracket supporting the collector, an arm supportingthe bracket, said arm being carried by the aforesaid stem, and universal. joint connections between the arm and the bracket, and be twee the arm and the'stem; j 5--'l.he cem na cn ofan elevated track,

a motor truck mounted on said track, a car suspended from the truck, a hanger supporting the car, a pivotal connection between the hanger and the truck, guard rollers located beneath the track in proximity thereto, a tilting support for the rollers carried by the hanger, and leveling means for the support:

6. The combination of an elevated track, amotor truck mounted on said track, a car suspended'from the truck, a hanger supporting the car, a pivotal connection between the hanger and the truck, guard rollers located beneath the truck in proximity thereto and to the ends of the truck, the-truck-ends having front and rear guards straddling the track, a tilting support for the rollers carried by the hanger, and leveling means for the support.

7 The combination ofan elevated track, almotor truck mounted on said track,a car suspended from the truck, a hanger supporting the car, a pivotal connection between the hanger and the truck, guard rollers located beneath the track in proximity thereto, a tilting support for the rollers carried by the hanger, leveling means for the support, an upstanding stem carried by the hanger, a current collector, a bracket supporting the collector, an arm supporting the bracket, said arm being carried by the aforesaid stem, and pivotal connections between the arm. and the bracket, and between-the arm and the stem.

8. The combination of an elevated track, a motor truck mounted on said track, a car suspended from the truck, a hanger supporting the car, a pivotal connection between the hanger and the truck, and a spring carried by the hanger, and engageable with the bottom of the truck in front of and to the rear of the hanger.

9. The combination of an; elevated track,

a motor truck mounted .on said track, a hanger'carried by the truck, a car carried by the hanger, a pivoted arm carried by the hanger and extending forwardly and rearwardly therefrom, guard rollers carried by the outer ends of the arm, said rollers being located beneath the track in proximity thereto, and a leveling spring for the arm. 10. The combination of an elevated track, a motor truck mounted on saidtrack, a hanger carried by the truck, a car carried by the hanger, a pivoted arm carriedbythe hanger andextending forwardly and rearwardly therefrom, guard rollers carried by the outer ends of the arm, said rollers being located beneath the track in proximity thereto, and to the ends of the truck, the truck ends having front and rear guards straddling the track, and a leveling spring for the arm.

11. The combination of an elevated track, a motor truck mounted on said track, a

hanger carried by the truck, a car carried by the hanger, a pivotedarm arried by the' hanger and extending forwardly and rear: wardly therefrom, guard rollers. carried by the outer ends of the arm, said. rollersbeing located beneath the track in proximity. thereto, a leveling spring for the arm, an upstanding stem carried by the hanger, a current collector, a bra'cket'supportingthe collector, an arm supportingthe-bracket, said arm being carried, by the aforesaid stem, and pivotal connections between the arm and the bracket, and between the arm and the stem.

e 12. The combination of an elevated track, a motor truck mounted on said :track, hanger carried by the truck, a car carried by the hanger, guard rollers located beneath the track in proximity thereto, a tilting sup-- port fo'rthe rollers carried by the hanger, and leveling means for the support.

13. The combination of an'elevated track,

a motor truckmounted on said track, .a

hanger carried by the truck, a car carried by the hanger, guard rollers located beneath the track in proximity thereto and to the ends of the truck, the truck ends having front and rear guards straddling the track, a tilting support for the rollers carried by the hanger, and leveling means for the support.

14c. Thecombination of an elevated track, c

a motor truck mounted on said track, a hanger carried by the truck, a car carried by the hanger, a pivoted arm carried by the hanger and extendingforwardlyand rear-. \vardly therefrom, guard rollers carried by the outer ends of thearm, said rollers being located beneath the track in proximity thereto, a leveling spring for the arm, anup= standing stem carried by the hanger, a cur rent collector,a bracket supporting the col lector,-an arm'supportin'g the bracket,'said arm being carried by the aforesaid stem,

and universal. joint connections between. the: arm and the b'racket,and between the arm and the stem,

15. The combination of anelevated track, a motor truck mounted on said track, a. hanger carried by the truck, a car (carried bythe hanger, guard "rollers located beneath the track: in proximity thereto, a tilt,- ing support for the rollers carried by the hanger,'said support comprising pivotally connected sections, a latch for locking the sections together, a latch operating means,:. and an obstacle in the'path of the operating means for actuatingv thesame.

16. The combination of an elevated track, a motor truck mounted on said track, av hanger carried by the truck, a carcarried, by the hanger, guard rollers located beneath r the track in proximity thereto,atilting sup port for the rollers carried by the hanger, said support comprising pivotally connected sections, a latch for locking the sections together, a latch operating means, an obstacle in the path of the operating means for actuating the same, and means for limiting the swing of the sections when unlocked.

17. Thescombination of an elevated track, a motor truck mounted on said track, a hanger carried by the truck, a car carried by the hanger, guard rollers located beneath the track in proximity thereto, a tilting support for the rollers carried by the hanger, said support comprising pivotally connected sections, a latch for locking the sections together, a lever operatively connected to the latch, and having a laterally extending portion, and an obstacle in the path of said latorally extending portion of the lever for swinging the lever to withdraw the latch.

18. The combination of an elevated track,

a motor truck mounted on said track, a'

hanger carried by the truck, a car carried by the hanger, guard rollers located. beneath the track in proximity thereto, a tilting support for the rollers carried by the hanger,

said support comprising pivotally connected sections, a latch for locking the sections together, and means for breaking the support at the joint between the sections thereof.

19. The combination of an elevated track, a motor truck mounted on said track, a hanger carried by the truck, a car carried by the hanger, guard rollers located beneath the track in proximity thereto, a tilting support for the rollers carried by the hanger, said support comprising pivotally connected sections, a latch for locking the sections to: gether, and means for breaking the support at the joint between the sections thereof at predetermined times. 7

20. The combination of an elevated track,

a motor truck mounted on said track, a

JOSEPH F; MON TINE.

I Witnesses:

ADAM KooH, GEORGE C. MANSFIELD. 7

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five centsve ach, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. I 

